Audi 80 History
Catalog record
Photography for this nameplate has not yet cleared the archive’s licensing and identity checks. The researched text below remains available while the page stays out of search and advertising inventory.
History
Launched in 1972 as the B1-generation Audi 80, the car was an early example of the premium compact executive segment — a step above the mainstream Volkswagen Golf (with which it shared some engineering) but aimed at buyers who wanted genuine quality and driver involvement in a smaller package.
Five generations (B1 through B4) were built over 24 years. The B2 (1978–1986) introduced the quattro all-wheel-drive option to a production saloon for the first time in 1984, spreading the technology born in the Ur-Quattro to everyday family cars. The B3 and B4 generations carried the nameplate through to 1996.
The final B4-generation Audi 80 (1991–1996) was replaced by the Audi A4 when Audi adopted its alphanumeric naming system — a lineage that continues today.
Generations
First generation (B1) · B1
The founding compact Audi — a premium alternative to the mainstream VW Golf in the emerging executive-compact class.
1977 Photo: “File:Audi 80 GLS 1977 (8680932070).jpg” by nakhon100 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Second generation (B2) · B2
Added quattro all-wheel drive to the production saloon for the first time (1984), spreading the rally-bred technology to family cars.
1985 Photo: “File:1985 Audi 80 GL 1.8 Front.jpg” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1986 Photo: “File:1986 Audi 80 GT (white), front right.jpg” by Mr.choppers / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Fourth generation (B4) · B4
The last Audi 80 — replaced by the A4 when Audi adopted alphanumeric naming.
Body styles
- Sedan
- Wagon (Avant)
- Coupe/Cabriolet
Related models
Collect the nameplate
Find a scale model of the Audi 80
Search Amazon across available years, colors, and scales. Exact releases vary, so confirm the listing before ordering.